In a study of the effects of marijuana on a learning task, participants are asked to smoke a "cigarette" before learning how to complete a task. Some participants smoke regular cigarettes while others smoke cigarettes injected with THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana). The type of cigarette smoked is called the ________ variable.
A) dependent
B) independent
C) control
D) experimental

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The type of cigarette smoked (regular or THC-injected) is being manipulated by the researchers, so it is the independent variable. The dependent variable would be the participants' performance on the learning task, which is being measured and affected by the independent variable. Control and experimental variables are not relevant in this scenario.

In a Study of the Effects of Marijuana on a Learning